Milei receives Edmundo González in Buenos Aires, first cease on his Latin American tour | International | EUROtoday

“Edmundo, president,” 1000’s of Venezuelans shouted this Saturday within the central Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires once they noticed Edmundo González Urrutia seem on the balcony of the Casa Rosada. He was accompanied by the pinnacle of state of Argentina, Javier Milei, and a small entourage. It was the primary public look of the Venezuelan opposition chief and elected candidate on his Latin American tour with which he marks a problem to the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, on the eve of the presidential inauguration on January 10.

Venezuelans waited for greater than an hour underneath the solar and with emotion working excessive to see González Urrutia, whom they claimed because the winner of the July presidential elections. They additionally applauded Milei, whom they thank for having been one of many first world leaders to explain the Venezuelan elections as fraudulent and calling Maduro a dictator.

Wrapped within the flags of their nation, the members of the Venezuelan diaspora in Argentina have been proud that this nation is the primary on a tour that may proceed by means of Uruguay and Panama. “Freedom, freedom,” they chanted to applause and cheers when González Urrutia and Milei greeted them.

Before assembly with Milei, the Venezuelan opposition candidate revealed a message on his social networks by which he reported that each would speak about “the Venezuelan political situation, its impact on the region and the days to come.”

González Urrutia lived in Buenos Aires as a diplomat for 4 years, between 1998 and 2002. “Edmundo is hope after despair,” says Luis de Figueredo, who’s wearing an anti-Maduro T-shirt and waves a Venezuelan flag in entrance of the Casa Rosada. . “I don’t know if it will be January 10, January 15 or in a few more months, but Venezuela is going to be free because Maduro was left alone, no one supports him anymore,” he says.

The similar optimism is repeated amongst these gathered in entrance of the Argentine Government headquarters. “I came to see my president,” says Rita Segarra, 68, who arrived in Buenos Aires 5 years in the past to hitch her kids, who had migrated earlier, by means of tears.

The focus, nonetheless, is low if one takes under consideration that there are practically 200,000 Venezuelans residing in Argentina. Many selected to not go to the middle of town as a result of they consider that “only a miracle” will forestall Maduro from renewing workplace on January 10 for six extra years. “Edmundo’s visit is more useful to Milei than to us, unfortunately,” says Luis Patiño, proprietor of a cafeteria.

Argentina and Venezuela have damaged diplomatic relations and Milei has discovered the right enemy in Maduro. It permits him to determine himself as a defender of democracy within the worldwide enviornment, the place his different opinions—equivalent to rejection of the sustainable improvement agenda or insurance policies in opposition to gender violence—have many extra detractors.

González Urrutia’s agenda will proceed this afternoon on the opposite aspect of the Río de la Plata, in Uruguay. He can be acquired by the outgoing president, Luis Lacalle Pou.